Review - Dark Reign: Punisher #6

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Colours: Lee Loughbridge
One of the most enjoyable facets of Dark Reign, this rebranded Punisher: War Journal has so far been a blast. With Norman Osborn’s sovereignty overshadowing every major Marvel title at the moment, Frank Castle has his work cut out for him, and Rick Remender has so far kept this series about as dynamic and unyielding as is possible. Unlike Brian Michael Bendis, he doesn’t require an entire issue to set up the next big confrontation, yet his action scenes always feel purposeful to the greater plot.
Last issue saw the Hood resurrect a dozen dead supervillains, all B-list losers who were killed by the Scourge of the Underworld. Now convinced that Castle is the Scourge, and given 30 days to lives, these guys are already resorting to desperate measures. Fortunately, Castle still has some tricks up his sleeve, namely a cache of stolen super-powered gadgets… and a hoverboard.
Remender’s Fear Agent cohort Jerome Opena has been replaced with Tan Eng Huat (Doom Patrol vol. 3), whose work is almost as well suited to the book – not too slick as to undo the comparatively grounded nature of the Punisher, but energetic enough to showcase the superhero scenes.
Frank’s latest computer whiz-kid sidekick, Henry, is still a little two-dimensional at the moment and has not been fleshed out beyond the purpose he serves. But if that purpose at present is to guide the Punisher through his vendetta against every villain and crook in the Marvel Universe, then that’s fine by me. Evidently, Henry’s past and motivations will eventually come into play, but for the time being I hope he lasts longer than Frank’s past buddies. Castle has been going it alone for far too long.
 

Review Total: 8/10

Reviewed by: Carl Doherty

Mike Carbo's Comic Book Marketplace Hits the Big Apple!

Last Saturday saw droves of comic book fans flock to the Big Apple for Mike Carbo's Comic Book Marketplace. A single day event that rocked Penn Plaza despite the chilly weather. This year's con featured an impressive line up of artists and writers from some of the best titles around, plus comic book movie legend Ilya Salkind, the original producer of the first three Superman films.

The first panel of the day featured master X-Men scribe Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men Forever) along with Dan Slott (She-Hulk, The Might Avengers), Jim Starlin (Captain Marvel) and Larry Hama (G.I. Joe) discuss the art of storytelling in comics over the years. While a little later in the day another panel featured artists J.H. Williams (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight), Bill Sienkiewicz (New Mutants, Moon Knight) and Micheal Golden (Wolverine: First Class, New Exiles) talking everything from cover art to sketch cards.

Attendees also got a unique chance to partake in some classic gaming during the con. As NYCBM's video game room allowed fans of all ages to relive the glory days of Goldeneye on N64 and games like Contra and Gauntlet on the original Nintendo entertainment system.

Then there was of course the comics, with rows upon rows of vendors dealing in everything from the golden and silver age to the variants and trades of today. Manhattan's own Midtown Comics was on hand as well as some of the independent comic shop owners in the business today, and with the recent purchase of Action Comics #1 for a cool million dollars right here in New York, the energy at the market was almost at fever pitch. With all sorts of sweet deals to be had the Market was definitely open business to bad it was only one day.